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Thomas E. Harris
County Administrator
E-mail: Contact teharris

Norma J. Duty
Assistant County Administrator


Office Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Information

Thomas E. Harris

Development. With Tom’s focus on consensus building, cooperation, collaboration and in developing political will, Northampton’s Community Development Plan established environmental protection, social equity and economic viability as community priorities. This commitment to “Sustainability” and “Smart Growth” resulted in the establishment of the Nation’s first “Eco-Industrial Park: The Port of Cape Charles Sustainable Technologies Industrial Park” and the adoption of the nationally acclaimed Northampton Sustainable Development Action Strategy.

This multi-faceted planning initiative received awards from the National Association of Counties (NACO), the Chesapeake Bay Alliance, and the President’s Council on Sustainable Development and in June of 1997, Mr. Harris was personally honored when he was selected as the first local government private sector advisor to the United States delegation for the United Nations Earth Summit II Special Session in New York.

Again focusing on the principles of Sustainable Development and Smart Growth and capitalizing on the enormous success in Northampton County Mr. Harris helped shape the future of one of the State’s fastest growing Counties (King George) when he was appointed County Administrator and General Manager of the County Service Authority in 1999. In 2002 Tom left Virginia for a brief but highly educational stint in Mississippi Local Government.

Tom has served on the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) Smart Growth Advisory Committee and has spoken throughout the United States on Sustainable Community and Economic Development, Smart Growth, Livable Communities, Strategic Planning, Community ConsensMr. Thomas E. Harris, a native Virginian, was born and raised in the suburbs of Richmond in Henrico County. Tom has a B.S. Degree in Recreation Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University; and while pursuing a Master’s Degree at Arizona State University, taught classes as a graduate assistant in Recreational Programming, Community Education, Leisure Education and Public Administration.

Tom has worked in Local Government beginning in 1972 as a part-time playground supervisor in Henrico, Virginia and was honored with his thirtieth year “service award” on October 10th from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) at the 2007 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Harris has served as Recreation Director in Superior, Arizona, and both Henry and Caroline County, Virginia as well as District Supervisor in Henrico and as Secretary-Treasurer for the Virginia Parks and Recreation Administrators Association.

Additionally, Tom has worked as a private consultant and with the Commonwealth of Virginia in developing cost-efficient delivery services and programs throughout Virginia.

Mr. Harris returned to Virginia to assume the position of Town Manager in Dumfries in April of 1990 following three years of service in Superior, Arizona. Tom served as County Administrator in Northampton County from September 1993 to January 1999 and under his administration Northampton County established itself as a National Model for Rural Sustainable us Building, and the role of Local Government in the development of “Political Will” by elected officials. These efforts were atuned and further focused on public leadership and the model "Green Development" programs and successes in both Northampton and King George Counties, Virginia.

Mr. Harris has spoken at several National Conferences, spent two weeks in the United Kingdom on a Local Government exchange program, has authored multiple articles on Sustainable Development and/or Local Government and is an active member of the Virginia Local Government Managers Association (VLGMA).

Mr. Harris served as Clifton Forge’s (Virginia) Town Manager from February 1, 2003 to June 15, 2007 where he was able to reverse seven years of annual Town deficits (prior to his arrival) into five Fiscal Years of positive fund balances ... without any tax increases.

Tom assumed the position of County Administrator for Amelia County on June 18, 2007.

Mr. Harris is married to Rebecca S. Harris and has three children, Ariel Elizabeth a 10 years old Fifth Grader at Amelia Middle School, Ian Bysshe who is completing his Law Degree at American University and Corinne Nicole who is an underwriter and senior loan officer for J.P. Morgan/Chase in Scottsdale, Arizona; and two step children Camille K. Charles a Retail Fashion Manager in Richmond and David “Tyler” Charles, an apprentice electrician in Covington Virginia.

In his spare time, Tom is both an accomplished painter and writer.

OTHER NEWS:

County Administrator Thomas Harris presented the Amelia County Board of Supervisors in December 2009 with a list of Administrative Priorities to help address the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget. These priorities were the result of meetings over the past few weeks with the Amelia County Constitutional Officers, the Superintendent of Schools and the Director of Social Services and have been endorsed by all.
 

County Administrator Fiscal Year 2010 Goals and Priorities

1. To maintain our current level of programs and services.

2. To retain all current County Employees and employee benefits.

3. To complete all safety, security, grant funded and/or economic development related Capital Projects.

4. To complete and implement an update of both; the Amelia County Comprehensive Plan and the County’s Personnel Policies and Procedures.

5. To design and implement a comprehensive Organizational Plan, a Pay for Performance Personnel Management System, an Energy Audit of County facilities and a Strategic Plan that includes a “Community Vision” section.

RECENT EVENTS

On Sunday, September 13th, over 130 motorcycles of the South Richmond HOG Chapter and friends led by Larry Walters (Chapter President), roared up US Route 360 and into the Virginia Veterans Cemetery at Amelia County in escort of a bus of disabled Veterans from McGuire Hospital. This was the second annual fund-raising event in Amelia and the escort team consisted of several local riders and representatives of the Amelia County Sheriff’s Office. Also in attendance, was Dan R. Kemano, Memorial Cemeteries Director for the Commonwealth of Virginia, David Jones, Amelia Cemetery Grounds Supervisor and County Administrator Thomas Harris, was honored to have been asked to provide the welcoming remarks and serve as key note speaker.

Following a brief introduction by Mr. Walters, Mr. Harris welcomed the riders, veterans and the many support staff there to honor the veterans interred at this sacred site on behalf of the Amelia County Board of Supervisors. Also paying homage to the brave public safety personnel and victims of 911, Mr. Harris then led the attendees in prayer. Following Mr. Harris, Bo Rollins, representing the National PVA Veterans Benefits Department and Carl Blake, representing the National PVA Advocacy and Legislation Department, thanked Mr. Walters and the South Richmond HOG Chapter for their continued support of both the PVA and McGuire Hospital and further acknowledged the appreciation and reverence each had for the veterans, both living and dead, at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery at Amelia and all in attendance.

The ceremony then turned to the most poignant and important portion of the event … the laying of the Wreath by Charlie Hayden (PVA – McGuire Hospital) and finished with comments by Chuck Willis, Virginia Mid Atlantic President.

This event has now established itself as an Annual event (make plans to attend next year) and on this bright and beautiful September day, it was truly a time of solemn remembrances as the South Richmond HOG Chapter completed their homage to the brave souls and heroes who gave their last full measure of devotion to their country so that ours may be a better and safer world in which to live.  

In a single moment on September 11 2001 we saw the worst and the best of humanity. Our country suffered a terrible tragedy and horrific loss. We were called upon as a nation to live out the beliefs and values we espouse. We are here today to remember the sacrifice and loss of those that are no longer here as a result of that tragedy, and to honor their memory. We now live in nation that is changed because of those events and we must remember the lessons learned from that tragedy so we can make a better tomorrow. We saw that day that heroes are born in adversity.

You know, we live with heroes around us everyday. They serve as volunteers in our Fire Departments, our Rescue Squads, they serve with our Law Enforcement agencies. They  serve as teachers in our schools and help shape our children’s character in volunteer sports programs. They are men and women who serve in our Armed Forces in America and around the world to secure our freedom, and we are reminded by their sacrifice that Freedom is never free. To all of them we owe our thanks and gratitude.

Before entering the ministry, I had a career as a professional firefighter. I know the sacrifice that is demanded of those who serve us and risk their lives to protect ours. To those who are serving in all of those areas today, a grateful community and nation says thank you. But, we learned some painful but valuable lessons from that day eight years ago. We have learned that good will always overcome evil. We have learned that America with all of its challenges is still the greatest country on earth. We have learned that common people will exhibit uncommon courage when they are challenged. We have learned that God in all of His grace still shines down His mercy on those who call on Him. We heard in those days after 9/11 the message in the song God Bless America, a message on which we can all agree on. But I think now in these days we are at a place where America needs to Bless God. We learned in those days that we could come together as One Nation Under God. Churches were filled with those in prayer, good will was shown to those suffering loss and we became at least for time a kinder people. It is sad that it takes a tragedy for us to come together, but let us make it our prayer today to honor the sacrifice of
those lost by living to a higher standard. We should expect our nation and its leaders to live a higher calling. The events of 9/11 showed us we have the capability to do so, and I would call upon all of us today in whatever realm of influence you have to live to that higher standard and to be a model of those lessons learned.

If we are to honor the memories of those lost and honor the sacrifices of those still serving, we have a responsibility to embrace the future. We can honor them by the lives we live. We can honor those tried and true values that we all know and love. Some of them may seem out of focus in our present society, but they are never out of style. One of the wonderful things about living in this community is we have great people and great opportunities all around us. It doesn’t cost much to smile and say hello to those you see. It is not hard to be kind to those around you or volunteer and hour or two of your time in your church or community. And as we enjoy the highest standard of living of any nation on earth, the giving of our time and resources shouldn’t just be something we do it should be who we are.

To those of you who are serving us now, I say again thank you.

We memorialize people and events with gatherings such as this. We memorialize them with plaques, statues, and buildings. I happen to think the greatest memorials are those that are living. I mean living in you and I.  The sacrifice of those we are honoring today will never be in vain or wasted as long as we will remember. That is what a memorial is all about. If we are living memorials of those who serve us and have sacrificed for us we will remember the past, but embrace our future by making it a better place. Thank you,


God Bless You
And May God Bless America

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• Virginia Review Article

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